Lumber grapple



June 24, 1930. G. R. HOFFMAN LUNBER GRAPPLE Filed Ja'n. 5, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet. 1

June 24, 1930. G. R. HOFFMAN 1,767,525

v LUMBER GRAPPLE Filed Jan. 5, 1927 4Sheets-S1'1ee1I 2 Fig. 2. Z

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June 24, 1930. As. R. HOFFMAN.

LUIBER GRAPPLE Filed Jan. 5. 1927 4 sheets-sneu s' I N VEN TOR.

Gro/eef f?. HOFFMAN ATTORNEYS.

`June 24, 1930. s. R. HOFFMAN 4 Sheets-Sheet. 4

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INVENToR. Gro/PGE A9.' HOFFMAN ATTORNEYS.

Patentedv June 24, 1930 i UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-ICB anonce norma-N, QF att-1S, arsenaal-n, nesmnon To -Mrtwavnan intac- 'rarc enana e 'msnvaecrramc @MPA-nr, ori weer ALMS., .wrsconsm ,e

PORATIDN QF WISQON.

llamarla entrata A application ined Ygrgfniuer-y,5, naar.l serial no. 159,037.

This invention relates to an improved lumber hoist lcrane of the, type embodying a pow= er operated lumber grapple suspended from a t-i-aveling crane .in such manner asto be movable vertically with resp-ect thereto and movable bodily therewith horizontally.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having a novel and effective suspension means on the crane for the lumber grapple whereby the lumber grapple has a four-point suspension from the crane, although'raised and lowered lfrom a single drum operated by a single motor. This organization precludes tipping of the lumber grapple thereby preventing loss of lumber therefrom and in generalitfenhanees stability .of .the grapple and consequently ofthe i load thereon `while greatly simplifying the mechanism for controllingiand .operating the' grapple from the crane.

Another object is to .provide .a novel lumf ber grapple embodying an upper frame suspended from the .crane and a lower grappley carrying frame pivotally mountedon the up-y per frame for rotation about avertical axis and wherein the means for rotating for angularly ,adjusting the lower frame lis mounted entirely and while having an effective operative connection with the lower frame.

Another ,object ofthe invention is to provide means, which means isdirectly mounted` onandcarriedby-the upper frame and operatively connected with the lumber grapples of the lower framefor rotating and `controlling 1 the angular adjustment of the lumber grapples ofthe lower frame.

Another object of the invention is to pro-V vide a lumber grapple havinga lower ,frame so mounted and controlled asto be completely rotatable through 3 6() degrees thereby facilitating the handling of the lumber and making it easyand convenient to reverse the load of lumber-,end for end or place it in various angled positions relativeV t6 the path of movement of the crane and cessity of transferring current Vf-romthe upper to the lower frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lumber grapple: wherein all of the Vquently does not have directly on the upper frame with' a herir.L

yeteliminating the nemechanism for operating and .controlling the a position ofthe grapples and operating and contrplling the position of the grapple carryf ing frame -is located in a convenient and faccessibl'e position on the upper frame which not'only makes it easy adjustment, replacement and repair, but which eliminates collector y*rings orv other means that might otherwise be necessary were this mechanismV carried on a lower frame. vAnother advantage of this arrangement is that the grapple vcarrying frame easier to operate and control as it is lighter and conse,- an undesirable degree of inertia'that'must be overcome in the starting and stopping vof this lower frame.

to effect lubrication,

frnotheri object is to providel a device .of

the character Aspecified which is of .simple and durable construction, .reliable and effective in operation and easy and comparatively inex-l pensive .to manufacture. 4

Other objects and advantages reside in cerl tain novelfeatures of theconstruction, arf rangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more `fully described and particularly .pointed i out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompany ing'drawings forming a part of this specification and in which:` a 1 v s' ligure l is a view `in endelevation show? fjFig. 2 isa plan view;vr v 3 is a fragmentary viewfof the device in elevation; Y Fig. l is a plan view of the lumbergrapple portion broken away and 'shown in ntal section to illustrate the means employed forzoperating'the lumber grapple 54 ing one embodiment of the invention;

Figl is a 'fragmentary View vpartly in longitudinal vertical sectionon. line 5v5 of e Figure .l and partly in side elevation;

.6 is'a view in transverse vertical sec# tion on kline .of Figure; and

is ra `frazfnnentar-y.detail view in section 4illustrating the slip clutch. e

Referring' tothe .drawings and more particularly to Figures l2 and`3,i`the numeral l designates a pair `of elevated krails oo'nstitut-v ,n ing a' track "or runwaylon which la traveling crane designated4 .generally iat 2 is mounted.

The traveling crane comprises a suitable truck 3 having flanged wheels 4 which en- `frage the rails 1. rlhe flanged wheels 4 are fixed on suitable axles 4a journaled in bearings provided therefor on the truck` and at least one of which is driven from an electric motor 5 through suitable gearing 6. On the platform of the'truck 3 a single drum 10 is provided and has trunnions 11 rotatably mounted in bearings 12 provided on the platform of the truck. The drum is rotated in either direction 'from a reversible electric motor 13 having its armature shaft geared to the drum by reduction gearing 14. Of course the gearing employed through-out the machine may be suitably encased or housed. rlhe drum 10 is provided `with four spaced spiral grooves, two oppositely directed spiral grooves being located at each end of the drum. rFliese grooves are designed to receive hoist cables 15, 16, 17 and 18. ln lieu of cables, ropes or any flexible lines may be employed. Each of these cables is made fast tothe drum in any suitable manner at one end and after wrapping around the drum is passed downwardly from the traveling crane to a lumber grapple designated generally at 20. As shown in Fig, 1, the cables and 16 pass around sheaves 21 and 22 rotatably mounted on the frame Iof the grapple 2O and then eX- tend back up to the crane 2 where they are dead-ended'by being pivotally fastened as at 23 and 24 to eye bolts 25 and 26 adjustably connected as at 27 and 28 to channels 29 .and 30 securely fastened to the structure of the truck 3. The cables 17 and 18 are passed around similar sheaves 31 and 32 and are also dead-ended on the truck of the frame like the cables 15 and 16. vWith this arrangement a single drum is employed for raising and lowering the lumber grapple and this advantage is had along with a four-point suspension.

The lumber grapple is shown in detail in Figures 4, 5 and 6 and in operative association with the traveling crane in Figures 1 and 3. As shown in the drawings, this lumber grapple has an upper frame and a lower frame 36, the lower frame being rotatably supported on the upper frame. The upper frame is iixed against rotary movement in a hori- Zontal plane although it may be raised and lowered since it is at the corners of this upper frame that the sheaves 21 and 22 and 31 and 32 are rotatably mounted.

The frame 35 is made up of a marginal frame member 35a of channel section and the top flange ofthe channel is integrally formed with or otherwise rigidly connected to a top pla-te 37 which constitutes a platform. Centrally the frame 35 is provided with a tubular bearing member 38, the bearing member 38 preferably being integral with the top plate 37 and also integral with webs 39 which are also integral with the marginal frame member 35a and extend radially between the marginal frame member 35a and the tubular bearing member 38. Flanges 39a are integrally formed with the webs and with the lower flanges of the marginal frame member 35ato strengthen and stiften the same.

As indicated in Fig. 4, the guide sheaves 21 and 22 and 31 and 32 are mounted on shafts 40. The shafts 40 are journaled in suitable bearings provided therefor in the marginal channel frame 35a. Guards 42 are provided around the sheaves 21 and 22 and 31 and 32. The lower 'frame 36 includes spaced side frame members of channel shape and pairs or end frame members 46 united with the side frame members 45 by connecting plates 47 riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the framemembers 45 and 46. The members of eachV pair of end frame members 46 are of channel form and are oppositely disposed and held in spaced relation with respect to each other. v'lChis lower trame also has a pair of' longitudinally extending intermediate frame members 48, the frame members 48 preferably being symmetrically disposed with the longitudinal axis of the machine. Connecting plates 49 are riveted or otherwise suitably secured to these intermediate frame members 48 and tothe end frame members 46 to secure these parts together in assembly. As shown in Fig. 6, the lower frame 36 is suspended' on the upper frame member 35 by means of arsleeve hanger 50 which extends through the tubular bearing member 38 of he upper frame 35 and rotatably lits within bushings 51 provided in the tubular bearing 38.. The lower end of this sleeve hanger 50 is enlarged and has integrally formed therewith spacedwings 52 which are riveted as at 53 or otherwise suitably secured to the intermediate frame members 48 of the frame 36. rifhe upper end of the sleeve hanger 50 is provided with a reduced extension 54 which extends up 'above tubular bearing member 38 and has its upper extremity threaded to receive` a nut 55. The nut 55 serves to hold a thrust bearing 56 in proper adjustment on the extension 54 of the sleeve hanger 50 and this thrust bearing 56 in turn engages a cap 57 resting onl the upper end of the tubular bearingl 38 andof a size gradually decreasing or reducing upwardly as shown in Fig. 6 to afford a proper seat for the thrust bearing 56. llhe cap 57 is held in place by bolts 57 a (see Fig. 4) which coact with apertured ears 57 integral with the cap 57 and which fasten the cap to the top plate 37 of the frame 35. With this construction the sleeve hanger and tubular bearing and associated parts provide not only for the proper support and suspension of the lower frame on the upper, but also afford a king pin structure whereby the lower frame is constrained to rotate about a vertical axis located centrally of the upper frame when the lower frame is angularly adjusted relative to the iippeifiiaine.

For the purpose of turning or angularly adjusting l the lower frame 36 relative to the upper frame 35 a relatively large gear wheel 58 is fixed'to thesleeve hanger 50 just below the tubular bearing 3 8. The teeth of this gear Wheel :'58 meshwitha pinion 59 (see Figures `3 and 5), the latter being fixed to the lowerend of a shaft .60 rotatably mounted in upper frame 35.` he upper end ofthe vertical shaft 60 projects above the frameiand has a beveled gea-.r` wheell liXed thereto, the beveled gear wheel Gl'meshing with a beveledpinion 52 xed to one end of a shaft 63 journaled in bearing 64 providedon the platform 37 of frame 35 and driven from an electric motor '65 through a pinion 66 liiredto with a large gear wheel 67 fixed on .the shaft 63. An electromagnetic brake 68, preferably ofthe clam shell iype, is operatively asso-v ciated with the armature shaft ofthe motor to hold its armature .shaft in any adjustment.

With this arrangement the electric motor v may be energized to cause the lower frame 36 vto be rotated relative to the upper frame 35 and this lower frame may be rotated through a complete circle o r through the entire 360 degrees of langular adjustment. This ad# vantage is had' without necessitatin the use of commutator `rings or other means or `transmitting electric current from the upper frame to the lower frame. This advantage results from mounting the electricmotor A65 .on the upper frame and gearing it to the lower fra-me in vthe manner set forth and iii-this ar,-

rangement there is involved theladditional advantages of making all of the parts readily accessible and relieving the `lower frame of( weight.-

At the corners of the lower frame lumber grapple means shown as comprising grapple.

hooks 70 are provided, each grapple hook 70 having a vertical shaft or shank 71 `and an inturned orhorizontally extended lower end constituting` a bill or foot 72.v The shaft of each grapple hook has its upper end rotatably mounted on ,the lower frame, the upper end of the shank of each grapple hook being'` stepped to afford shoulders and clearances necessary to accomplish this purpose`-and to adaptthe grapple hook to be controlledas to.

its angular `adjustments. As illustrated in I 5, the lower step 73 at the upper end portion of each grapple hook provides a shoul- -b der against'which a collar 74 abuts, l The collar 74 engages the lower end of a bearing lsleeve 75 which is secured to the frame 36 be;

- tween the frame members 46 thereof. 'The portion 73a of the shank 71 just above the shoulder 73 has a snug rotatable ft in a bushing 77 iitted in the bearing sleeve 75. Above the bearing sleeve `75K`the shank 71 has an spxkto the shank 71,

the armature shaft of the motor and meshing.

ternally threaded portion 78 with which an internally threaded hub of a pinion 79 is engaged. rlhe pinion 79 is also keyed as at 8.0 a washer 81 being interposed between the pinion and the upper end of the bearing sleevev75. By threading the pinion 79 on the shank 71 the pinion may be used as a nut to draw up the shank 71 as far as maybe desirable to secure and maintain the proper engagementof the collar 74 withfthe shoulder 7 3 and the lower end of the vbearing sleeve-75, as well astol tighten the pinion 7 9 against'the'washer 81 and the washer 81 against the upper end of the bearing sleeve, Thekey maintains the adjustment. ln thisl way the grapple hookis held against ver-- ticalor axial movement butis mounted foi free radial movement about its vertical axis. This enables the grapple hook to be turnedso as to have its foot engaged withthe pile of lumber or to be turned to move its foot out of engagement with the pile of lumber. v

eans is provided for moving the grapple hooks to position the bills or feet thereof to engage the pile of lumber or to disengage the saine as may be desirable and this means .coinprises an electric motor 85 Vmounted `on the platform-37 ofthe framevB, and having a pinion 86 fixed to its armature shaft and meshing with a large gear wheel 87 loosely mounted on a shaft 88 though normally censtraining the shaft 88 to rotate therewitl through a slip clutch designated at 89. rlhe slip clutch 89 may be of any suitable type but is shown as comprising a'friction dislr90having an elongated sleeve-like hub` extension snugly fitted on and fixed to the shaft 88. ne face of the disk 90 engages one face Aof the gear wheel87 which is rotatably mounted on the hub extension of the disk 90, the opposite face of the gear wheel 87 being engaged to the shaft 88 and meshes .with agear wheel fixed on a eountersunk shaft 9e journaled in bearings 97 provided on the platformV 37. This shaft 96 carrie.: pinion 98 which meshes witha gear segment 99 pivotally mounted as at 100 on suitablebearing lugs 101c1 integral with the bearing cap 57, the gear segment `99 being pivotally connected as at 101V to the lower end of a pair of links 102, .the latter eing pivotally connected as at 103 .to one end of `a rocker 104, the rocker havingV` its oppositeend pivotally connected as at 105 to the upper end of a link support 106 pivotally mounted as `at 107 to suitable mounting lugs 108 integral with the'bearing .cap 57 Intermediate its ends the rocker 104V is provided Y with transversely alined openings to receive the trunnions 110 of a bearingblock 111 which has a vertical opening therethrough to receive the upper reduced end of a sliding shaft 112, the shaft 112 being fastened to the block 111 by a nut 113 threaded on the upper end of this shaft 112 and bearing against a washer 114 interposed between the nut 113 and the block 111. Below the block 111 a washer 115 is interposed between the block and a shoulder on the shaft 112. The shaft 112 has its intermediate portion enlarged and slidably fitted in a bushing 116 mounted in the sleeve hanger 50. rl`he lower end of this shaft 112 is provided with opposed racks 117 and 118 which mesh with gear segments 119 and 120 keyed and clamped or otherwise suitably fixed to rock shafts 121 and 122 extending longitudinally of and journaled in bearings provided therefor in the lower frame 36. The shaft 121 is utilized to adjust the grapple hooks on one side of the machine to the shaft 122 to operate the grapple hooks on the other side ofthe machine. Each of the shafts 121 and 122 has a crank arm 123 fixed thereto adjacent each end and each crank arm is pivotally connected as at 124 to one end of a connecting rod 125, the opposite end of the connecting rod 125 being pivotally connected as at 126 to a sliding rack bar 12? mounted for sliding adjustment in guide or bearing 128 provided in a housing 129 which cncases the upper end of the shank 71 of the grapple hook with which it is associated. Each sliding rack bar 127 meshes with the pinion 7 9 of its grapple hook.

1With this arrangement when it is desired to adjust the grapples or grappling hooks angularly, the electric motor 85 is started and the rotation of its armature shaft rotates thel shaft 88 through the gears 86 and 37 and slip clutch 89. rlhe shaft 88 transmits motion through the shaft 96, through the gears 94 and 95 and the shaft 96 in turn moves the gear segment 99 through its pinion 98. The swing ing of the gear segment 99 rocks the rocker 104 by virtue of the link connection 102. Due to the mounting of its rocker 104 on the piv oted supporting link 106, the rocker imparts a straight line motion to the sliding shaft 112 until the sliding shaft 112 has been moved up or down (depending on the direction of rotation of the electric motor) as far as it may be. ylhis motion of the sliding shaft 112 swings the gear segment 119 and 120, rocks the shafts 121 and 122 and consequently the crank arms 123 to cause trie connecting rods 125 to slide the racks 127 whereby to impart the proper degree of rotation in the proper direction to all of the grapple hooks simultaneously. After the sliding shaft 112 is moved up or down as far as it may be the slip clutch permits the motor 85 to spin without imparting any motion to the grapples. The gear wheel 95 has a lateral stop 150 lixed thereon and preferably cast integral therewith and this stop 150 engages a stop lug 151 fixed to or cast integral with the top plate 37 of the' frame 35. These stops 150 and 151 (see Fig. 4) engage at the proper time in the cycle of operation to limit the movement imparted to the grappling hooks. Of course the operator turns olf the motor as soon as this occurs. This organization makes all of the parts of the grapple hooks controlling and -operating means readily accessible for adjustment, replacement and repair and has the electric motor 85 and` most of the gearing between this motor and the grapple hooks'positioned on the upperframe.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a lumber handling apparatus, a lumber grapple comprising an upper frame, a lower frame suspended on the upper frame for rotary movement and means directly mounted on and carried entirely by the upper frame and operatively connected with the lower frame for adjusting the lower frame angularly.

2. In a lumber handling apparatus, a lumber grapple comprising a horizontally disposed upper frame, a horizontally disposed lower frame suspended on the upper frame for rotary movement, means directly mounted on the upper frame and operatively connected with the' lower frame for adjusting the lower frame angularly, grapple hooks adjustably mounted at spaced points on the lower frame and designed to straddle and hoist a pile of lumber and means directly mounted on the upper frame and operatively connected with the grapple hooks for adjusting the same.

3. In a lumber handling apparatus, an upper frame, a lower frame, suspension meansl between the upper frame and the lower frame whereby the lower frame is suspended on the upper frame, grappling hooks adjustably mounted on the lower frame, an electric motor mounted on the upper frame, a sliding shaft extending through the suspension means and shiftable back and forth, motion transmission means between the sliding shaft and the grappling hooks including rock shafts mounted on the lower frame and geared to the sliding shaft, a rack and pinion associated with each grappling hook and means for actuating the racks and pinions from the rock shafts.

4. In a lumber handling apparatus, an upper frame, a lower frame, suspension means between the upper frame and the lower frame whereby the lower frame is suspended on the upper frame, grappling hooks mounted on the lower frame, an electric motor mounted on the upper frame, a sliding shaft extending through the suspension means and shiftable back and forth, a rocker connected with the sliding shaft, a link supporting one end of the rocker, a swinging member geared to the motor, a link between the swinging member and the rocker and mounted on the lower frame a sleeve hanger 1 connected to the lower frame and rotatably fitted the tubular bearingV of the upper frame, means between the upper end ofthe sleeve hanger and the tubular bearing for supporting the sleeve hanger on the ytubular ybearing against downward displacement while permitting relative rotation of these parts and means for rotating the lower frame vrelative to the upper frame including a motor mounted on the upper frame,ra vertical shaft journaled in the upper` frame and geared to said motor, said ,vertical shaft projecting below the upper frame and having a pinion on its lower end and a gear wheel iixedto the sleeve hanger vand meshed with said pinion.

6. In a lumber handling apparatus, an upper frame having a tubular bearingja lower frame, a sleeve hanger connected to the lower frame and rotatably fitted .in the tubular bearing of thek upper frame, means between the upper end of the sleeve hanger and thek tubular bearing for supporting lthe sleeve hanger on the tubular bearing against down` Vward displacement while permitting relative rotation on the lower frame, -lumber grappling hooks mounted adjacent the corners of the lower frame, and means for rotatablyadjusting said grappling hooks including' a sliding shaft fitted in the sleeve hanger, means on the upper framefor sliding said shaft back and forth, and motion transmission means between the lower end'of the sliding shaft and the grappling hooks.

7. In a lumber handling apparatus,` an upper frame having a tubular bearing, a sleeve hanger rotatably fitted in the tubular bearing and having spaced wings at its lower end fastened to the lower frame and means between the upper end of the sleeve hanger andthe tubular bearing for supportingl the sleeve hanger on the tubular bearing against downward displacement while permitting relaf tive rotation on the frames.

8. In a lumber handling apparatus, a frame having a sleeve bearing, j having a shank rotatably mounted in the sleeve bearing, means coacting with the shank of the grappling hook and the lower end of the bearing ion threaded on the upperend of the shank j and cooperable with the upper end of the se b a grappling hook j for limiting the upward move` ment of the shank through the bearing, a pin-` pinion in adjusted' position onlthegy lowe'rframe, lumber. grappling elements mounted at spaced pointsl onf the lower frame,y means for suspending thelower frame on the upper 'frame for rotary movement throughout'a complete circle and means diriectly"` ment;

Zonta-illy disposed upper frame, a horizontal-A mounted on the upper frame and geared` to! the lower frame for rotating the 10. In a lumber handling apparatus,.a hori? ly'disposedlower'frame-of generally rectani gula-r form suspended onthe'upper frame for' angular adjustn'ient, lumber grapples adjustablylmounted adjacent the leerners ofthe.

lower -frame,V an electric` motor mounted on the' upper frame, gearing between said motor andthe lower frame whereby the lower framel may be angularly adjusted by said motor5v and meansmounted on the upper framefand op'-v f erativelyconnectedw'ith thelumber grapL pling elements for adjusting the same. i

l1. A lumber handlingapparatus compris-Vv ing anupper frame, al'lowerfranie, suspension means betweenthe' upper f-rameandf'the lower frame whereby the'lower frame issus-' pended on the upper'framejlumber grappling hooks adj ustably mounted onl the lower frame, means for adjustingsaid lumber grappling hooks including a motor mounted on the upper frame, a shiftable element extending lthrough the y shifting said shi-ftable element from' said mo? tor and including a slip clutch and a gear driven through the slip clutch and v'connected to the s'hiftableV element,` cooperating stop meanslon the gear element and on the lower frame* for limiting the motion of the `gear element, and motion Vtransmission meansbe-` WG/Gnfthe shiftablevelement and the grail@`A p'ln-glrooks. l v f 12. In a lumber handlingapparatusan'upey per4 frame, a vlower frame5V suspension means between the-upper frameI and theV lower framewher'eby the lower frame is suspended on t"l'1e'*upperl frameV forangular adjustment,V

Vmeansr carried by the upperframe and coopsuspension means, vmeans forl rio erativlely connected with the-flower frame for# f i shifting the lower frame angularly', lumber'` grappling hooks mounted adjacentl the corners of the lower iframe,

tatably mounted on the lower frame', and motor'drivenmeans-mounted on the upper frame Y, and.foperativelyv connected with`the' shanksl Y Y each lumber grap-r plinghook includinga' shank extending verticallydownward from thelower frame and terminatingVv in `a bill-, said Shanks being fro- 12b v ing" horizontally' disposed Vv'upper frame, a horizontallydisposed lower framejof generally reCtangularform', means coacting with thek central portions of the frames for sus-` pendingfthe lower frame on'the upperA frame for rotary adjustment, means carried by the upper frame and coaoting with the lower frame for imparting rotative adjustment thereto, adjustable lumber grappling hooks mounted on the corners of the lower frame,

operating means carried by the lower frame and operable when actuated to adjust said hooks, a motor mounted on the upper frame and motion transmission means between the motor and said operating means.

111. A lumber handling apparatus 1comprising a horizontally disposed frame of generally rectangular form, pairs of lumber grappling hooks, there being one lumber grappling hook adjacent each corner of the frame, each lumber grappling hook including a shank extending vertically downward Yfrom the rame and terminating in a bill, means for supporting the upper ends of the Shanks on the trame for rotary movement, a pinion fixed to each shank, a vrack meshed with each pinion, guide means for the racks carried by the -trame, a rock shaft for each pair of grappling hooks, motion transmissionrmeans between each rock shaft and the racks of the grappling hooks with which it is associated, a single reversible motor and motion transmission means between the motor and both rock shafts. Y

15. A lumber handling apparatus oomprising a horizontally disposed frame of generally rectangular form, pairs of lumber grappling hooks, there being one grappling hook adjacent each corner of the frame, each lumber grappling hook including a shank extending verticallj7 downward from the frame and terminating in a bill, means for supporting the shanks for rotary movement on the frame, a pair of rock shafts mounted on the frame, there being one rock shaft for each pair of lumber grappling hooks, motion transmission means betweeneach rock shaft and its pair of lumber grappling hooks and motor driven means for rocking said rock shaft.

16. A lumber handling apparatus comprising a frame, a plurality of lumber grappling hooks rotatably vsupported at spaced points on said frame, each lumber grappling hook including a shank extending downward vfrom the frame and terminating in a" bill, a

motor and motion transmission means between the motor and all the lumber grappling Y hooks whereby the motor may be operated to turn all of said vlumber grappling hooks.

17. A lumber handling apparatus including an upper frame, a lower lramelocated below and in spaced relationrtosthe upper frame and suspended on the upper frame for angular adjustment, lumber grappling elements carried by the lower frame, a-'motor disposed below the upper frame and a pinion nature.

mounted on the upper frame and ge'aringbe- Y tween the motor and the lower frame including a gear wheel ixedly connectedjwith the lower frame about the axis of suspension-and GEORGE R. HOFFMAN. 

